Forget me not

More pedantry. This time, in an opinion article about the replacement of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan with Ben Carroll, former Premier Jeff Kennett (1992-1999), gets important details about his own political career wrong. Kennett became Premier in 1992, defeating his predecessor, Joan Kirner, in that year's state election. Kirner became Premier in 1990 after the resignation of John Cain, and not 1991. 

 

Mixed feelings

Former Victorian Premier Joan Kirner, who was in office from 1990 to 1992, died after a battle with cancer. She was 76. As a conservative I didn't agree with her politics, but for the most part I respected her. She governed under very difficult circumstances, and led a dysfunctional and incompetent cabinet.

I add this qualifying statement because after Kirner left politics, she was involved in establishing EMILY's List Australia, a network set up to help progressive women candidates run for elected office. This organisation has been quite successful. A key plank of EMILY's List's platform is the principle of reproductive rights.

Kirner was also a long time advocate of abortion law reform. In 2008 Victoria enacted laws allowing late term abortion after 24 weeks gestation. Pro-abortion Labor parliamentarians were instrumental in getting this legislation passed.

Joan Kirner must bear part of the responsibility for these laws. I am sad about her passing, but I am also sad about the numbers of abortions in Victoria.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-01/former-victorian-premier-joan-kirner-dies/6513086

http://www.emilyslist.org.au

http://realchoices.org.au/abortion/victorian-late-term-abortion-figures-released/